I agree with most of what lilcliffy said. I am strictly an XC skier, primarily not on groomed tracks, since there is none available nearby. I don't typically make turns, I am still on trails. I ski on Alpina Discovery 68's (metal edged, 68-60-65). I originally bought these to get more stability on f...

As good as the previous year (my first winter in WA), but very different. I think I did about 5 days of some kind of (ungroomed XC) in Walla Walla, where we apparently don't normally get much snowfall. It replaced my daily walk for a period of time, since the sidewalks were too dangerous--people don...

Newell Brands was actually a good company--they recalled and replaced some knives for me, and even added a free gift. Not sure about KKR. HOBOKEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Newell Brands Inc. (NYSE:NWL) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Winter Sports businesses, inclus...

I am a distance-oriented Xc skier and don't own any skis that wide, so `I won't comment on downhill capabilities of skis and keep my comments in context. 1. Unless you are skiing late season or on previously used trails, I think you will typically find the snow in your location quite powdery. Theref...

My foray into Alpine skiing. View from the top of the main lift at Bluewood (SE WA State). There is still winter above 4000 ft. here. Conditions today--frozen surface in morning, softened in early afternoon--temperatures up to 40 (F). It was partly cloudy, except when I happened to be taking the pic...

For the heavy telemarkers, there is already a separate forum http://www.earnyourturns.com . From my time on the old telemarktips and on the forementioned forum, the "heavy" telemarkers look down on XCD skiers as "meadowskippers"-- which is probably why they abandoned or didn't c...

.... I am also in the PNW, but the only thing we have in common with the Cascades is we get most of the same storms. They dump less, but much drier snow, in the Blue Mountains and Elkhorns, where I ski. Looking to get back to the Elkhorns one of these days. Used to ski Anthony Lakes in younger year...